At one time the back yard was seen as the only suitable place for a vegetable garden. Well not any more! One of the rising trends in vegetable gardening is growing vegetables in the front yard. As more people seek ways to grow more vegetables and maximize garden space, the front yard is as good a place to grow vegetables as the back. Some gardeners may need to grow vegetables in the front yard because the back yard may be unsuitable for growing vegetables, such as a very steep slope, or trees that create too much shade. Also, placing your vegetable garden in the front yard is a great way to show off your fabulous garden to neighbors.
There are a few things you should consider when growing vegetables in your front yard, here are just a few.
Use Good Planning
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Because a front yard vegetable garden is more visible to neighbors or passers-by, it is more important to create a garden that is not only very functional, but also more attractive. This is where good planning becomes very vital. Creating a nice design and predetermining how your garden will look before planting will help immensely.
Your vegetable garden does not need to look like those magazine-style gardens, but just use some forethought in the process of how and where you will plant your vegetables.
Mix Vegetables With Flowers
If you already have flower borders or beds in your front yard, you can easily interplant some vegetables with the flowers. You could also make new borders with just vegetables if none previously exist. Swiss chard, spinach, carrots, lettuces, and arugula can be used to create a very productive and attractive sidewalk or driveway border. Herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano, chives and many more can also be used as a fabulous border. Choose some ornamental vegetable varieties that blend in well with your existing flowers. Get creative and have fun!
Use The Art of Illusion
There are some vegetable plants that can grow very tall, such as indeterminate tomatoes or okra. These tall plants can seem unattractive to neighbors and they could start griping to local officials. To help prevent this from happening, use the art of illusion in your front yard vegetable garden.
No, I'm not saying you need to learn magic, just a few tricks of the eye.
When a tall object is next to an even taller object, it doesn't appear to be as tall when compared to the taller object. Use this in your front yard garden. Try to plant the taller vegetables near, or next to your home. When the tall plants are visually compared to the height of your home they will not appear to be so tall.
If the tall plants were out in the middle of your yard, they would stick out like a sore thumb and possibly draw unwanted attention.
Use Vertical Gardening
When growing vining vegetables, such as cucumbers, pole beans, or peas, use vertical gardening. Grow these vegetables using a simple trellis or arbor for them to climb up. The plants will actually be more healthy and productive while keeping your garden much more tidy.
You can easily create very attractive teepees for the pole beans to climb, or lattice arbors for cucumbers. Take into account the present look of your front yard and try to match your vegetable garden supports to fit in with the overall feel.
A Few Advantages of Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
There are quite a few advantages to growing vegetables in the front yard. The great thing about growing a front yard garden is the use of land that would other wise be grass. With the addition of a vegetable garden, the front yard becomes productive and less of just a "yard". The removal of grass means you have less or no, mowing. This is great for helping to reduce air and noise pollution. You will mow less and have more time to garden!
Also, you will be able to provide more delicious, fresh vegetables for yourself and your family. Now that is always a great advantage!
A Few Disadvantages of Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages to growing a vegetable garden in the front yard. Growing vegetables in the front yard may not be for everyone, and that's fine as long as you grow vegetables somewhere. Since the garden is in the front yard, it becomes highly visible.
Anyone that drives or walks by will be able to see your garden, so it becomes more important to put a bit more emphasis on aesthetics. You will probably receive some comments on your front yard garden - some will say they love it, some may say they hate it. To the detractors, just smile, say thanks, and keep right on growing!
Again, since your front yard garden will be highly visible and easily accessible, you may have to deal with stolen veggies or vandalized beds. This rarely happens but just be prepared that it could happen at some time.
Do you grow vegetables in your front yard? Please talk about your front yard garden. We'd love to hear about it!
There are a few things you should consider when growing vegetables in your front yard, here are just a few.
Use Good Planning
Your vegetable garden does not need to look like those magazine-style gardens, but just use some forethought in the process of how and where you will plant your vegetables.
Mix Vegetables With Flowers
If you already have flower borders or beds in your front yard, you can easily interplant some vegetables with the flowers. You could also make new borders with just vegetables if none previously exist. Swiss chard, spinach, carrots, lettuces, and arugula can be used to create a very productive and attractive sidewalk or driveway border. Herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano, chives and many more can also be used as a fabulous border. Choose some ornamental vegetable varieties that blend in well with your existing flowers. Get creative and have fun!
Use The Art of Illusion
There are some vegetable plants that can grow very tall, such as indeterminate tomatoes or okra. These tall plants can seem unattractive to neighbors and they could start griping to local officials. To help prevent this from happening, use the art of illusion in your front yard vegetable garden.
No, I'm not saying you need to learn magic, just a few tricks of the eye.
When a tall object is next to an even taller object, it doesn't appear to be as tall when compared to the taller object. Use this in your front yard garden. Try to plant the taller vegetables near, or next to your home. When the tall plants are visually compared to the height of your home they will not appear to be so tall.
If the tall plants were out in the middle of your yard, they would stick out like a sore thumb and possibly draw unwanted attention.
Use Vertical Gardening
When growing vining vegetables, such as cucumbers, pole beans, or peas, use vertical gardening. Grow these vegetables using a simple trellis or arbor for them to climb up. The plants will actually be more healthy and productive while keeping your garden much more tidy.
You can easily create very attractive teepees for the pole beans to climb, or lattice arbors for cucumbers. Take into account the present look of your front yard and try to match your vegetable garden supports to fit in with the overall feel.
A Few Advantages of Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
There are quite a few advantages to growing vegetables in the front yard. The great thing about growing a front yard garden is the use of land that would other wise be grass. With the addition of a vegetable garden, the front yard becomes productive and less of just a "yard". The removal of grass means you have less or no, mowing. This is great for helping to reduce air and noise pollution. You will mow less and have more time to garden!
Also, you will be able to provide more delicious, fresh vegetables for yourself and your family. Now that is always a great advantage!
A Few Disadvantages of Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages to growing a vegetable garden in the front yard. Growing vegetables in the front yard may not be for everyone, and that's fine as long as you grow vegetables somewhere. Since the garden is in the front yard, it becomes highly visible.
Anyone that drives or walks by will be able to see your garden, so it becomes more important to put a bit more emphasis on aesthetics. You will probably receive some comments on your front yard garden - some will say they love it, some may say they hate it. To the detractors, just smile, say thanks, and keep right on growing!
Again, since your front yard garden will be highly visible and easily accessible, you may have to deal with stolen veggies or vandalized beds. This rarely happens but just be prepared that it could happen at some time.
Do you grow vegetables in your front yard? Please talk about your front yard garden. We'd love to hear about it!
I decided this year I'm going to start planting my veggies there and will add in some of my favorite flowers as well ~ create the best of both worlds. 
